110-Year-Old Walnut Room on State Street Won’t Close: Macy’s Spokeswoman

Chicagoans can breathe easier as it appears The Walnut Room, the historic restaurant inside Macy’s on State Street, will remain open. Rumors persisted that the restaurant’s 110-year run was in jeopardy, but a Macy’s spokeswoman said the restaurant won’t close. Last month the Tribune reported that Macy’s placed seven of its store’s floors up for sale.

A visit to the Walnut Room is a time-honored Chicago holiday tradition complete with a trip to visit Santa. The lines around the holidays are long, as families clutch their pagers waiting to gaze upon the restaurant’s giant Christmas tree in the center of the dining room. The Walnut Room was a big part of Marshall Field’s before Macy’s bought the store chain and phased out the original name in 2005.

A Macy’s spokeswoman clarified the potential sale wouldn’t affect The Walnut Room, according to DNAinfo. While that’s good news, the fates of the remaining eateries on seventh floor aren’t clear. Rick Bayless’ Frontera Fresco is the star tenant at Macy’s Seven on State food court. The lunchtime lines are usually packed on weekdays. There’s also a burger spot from New York chef Marcus Samuelsson and ramen from Takashi Yagihashi, formerly of Takashi in Bucktown.